Method of drying, heating, and/or cooling flowable solids



July 22, 1947. J. L. ERlSMAN 2,424,229

METHOD OF mmne, HEATING, AND/OR COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Filed May 6, 1944 l4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. L. ERISMAN 2,424,229

DRYING, HEATING, AND/OR COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS l4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 22, 1947.

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METHOD OF DRYING, HEATING, AND/QR COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Filed May 6 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 I l I July 22, 1947. J. L. ERISMAN METHOD OF DRYING, HEATING, AND/0R COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Fild May 6, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 llllla July 22, 1947. J. L. ERISMAN METHOD OF DRYING, HEATING, AliD/QRCOOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Filed lay a, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 July 22, 1947. I J. L. ERISMAN' METHOD OF DRYING, HEATING, AND/0R COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Filed May 6, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 y 1947. J. L. ERISMAN 2,424,229

METHOD OF DRYING, HEATING, AND/OR COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Filed May 6, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 3 jrwwnm Jafinll'rzlsman PVRJ Wu July 22, 1947. .1. L. ERlSMAN HEATING, AND/OR COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS METHOD 01 DRYING,

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July 22, 1947. J. L.IERISMAN 2,424,229 I METHOD OF DRYING, HEATING, AND/OR COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Filed May 6, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 July 22, 1947. J. L. ERISMAN 2,424,229

METHOD OF DRYING, HEATING, AND/0R COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS Filed llay s, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Ill-I11 l Nu H'u Patented. July 22, 1947 OFFICE.-

METHOD OF DRYING; HEATING, AND/OR COOLING FLOWABLE SOLIDS John L. Erisman, Oak Park, Ill., assignonto Link- Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application May ii,v 1944, Serial No. 534,444

Claims.

provide an improved method of effecting continuous treatment of flowable solids with air, or other gaseous fluids, to remove excess moisture existing upon or within the individual material particles or lumps; to raise or lower the temperature of the material subsequent to or in preparation for some other treatment operation; to first remove the excess moisture by the application of heat and then cool the solids to a desired workable temperature. or to eflect other changes in the physical characteristics of the solids,

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a method of drying, heating and/or cooling flowable solids by causing the solids to be continuously subjected to the action of gaseous treatment fluid during the entire treatment period.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a method of eflecting the continuous treatment of flowable solids with air, or other gaseous fluids, by causing the solids to repeatedly move back and forth through the treatment fluid while the solids are being advanced through the treatment zone.

Still another important object of the invention is the provision of a method of subjecting flowable solids to a substantial change in temperature to accomplish drying, heating and/or cooling of the same by causing the flowable solids to repeatedly fall or cascade as a relatively shallow stream through and to be repeatedly lifted back through the flow of treatment air, or other gaseous treatment fluids.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a method of removing heat or moisture and fines or dust particles from flowable solids by causing the solids to repeatedly fall or cascade as arelatively shallow stream through and in a. direction normal to the direction of flow periods of vastly different duration.-

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a method of drying, heating and/or cooling flowable solids by causing the solids to repeatedly move back and forth through substantially parallel paths while beingprogressive- 1y advanced transversely of-said paths from afeeding point for the untreated solids to a discharge point for the treated solids and by sub- Jecting the solids to the action of two or more flows of air, or other gaseous treatment fluids, possessing different treatment producing characteristics or effects, which are arranged transversely of said paths.

Another object of the invention is the provision of amethod of drying, heating and/or cooling flowable solids by continuously feeding the solids to a treatment zone; lifting the solids in spaced batches or masses through the zone; spilling the lifted solids to cause them to fall or cascade as a relatively shallow stream back through the zone;

causing the falling or cascading solids to be advanced transversely through the zone away from the feeding location; repeating the cyclic lifting, spilling and falling or cascading treatment of the solids until the transverse advancement thereof has caused the solids to reach the discharge side of the treatment zone; discharging the solids as they are spilled after the final lifting, and circulating gaseous treatment fluid through the treatment zone so that it will flow between the batches or masses of solids being lifted and will permeate through the shallow stream of falling or cascading solids, whereby the solids will be maintained in constant heat exchange relation with the gaseous treatment fluid while moving in batches .or masses or as independently falling particles or lumps, and the passage ofv the treatment fluid through the falling or cascading stream of solids will effect separation and removal of fines or dust particles from said stream.

. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent'during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part 45 of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1- is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of apparatus which is capable of carrying 5 out the novel 'method steps of effecting drying, heating and/or cooling of flowable solids embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l and taken at right 55 angles to the view of this latter figure,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary and partly broken away vertical sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 6, and is provided to illustrate the method steps in which the flowable solids are lifted through and are caused to fall or cascade through the treatment air, or other gaseous fluids,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional.

view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6,

Figurev 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken at right angles to the view of Fig. 4 and is provided to illustrate in a schematic manner the movements of the solids in accordance with the illustrations of Figs. 4 and 5,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view which is provided to depict the cyclic courses or movements of the fiowable solids through the treatment zone while advancing from a feeding point to a discharging point,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of apparatus which is capable of carrying out the novel steps of this method,

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8 but taken at right angles to the view of this latter figure,

Figure 10 isafragmentary and partly broken away vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 9,

Figure 11 is a similar view to Fig. 6 but illus-' tra-ting the apparatus of Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive,

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of a fur; ther modified form of apparatus which is capable of carrying out the novel steps of this method,

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 12 but taken at rightangles to the view of this latter figure, I

Figure 14 is a fragmentary and partly broken away vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and

, Figure 15 is a similar view to Figs. 6 and 11 but illustrates the apparatus of Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive.-

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown the preferred method steps embodying this invention, and first particularly referring to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, there is disclosed one form of apparatus which is capable of carrying out the method. This form of apparatus forms the subject matter of my, copending application Serial No. 518,303, filed January 14, 1944, entitled Apparatus for drying, heating and/or cooling flowable solids. This copending application may be referred to for a more complete disclosure of the detail structural features of this apparatus.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 disclose a housing which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character A. This housing includes any desired form of framework which is designated generally as including a top frame and a bottom frame 2|. This housing further includes side wall panels 22 and 23, end wall panels 24 and 25, respectively, a

' these uprights 3| are to be pivotally connected to I is desired to causethe material to fall or cascade through the treatment zone of the housing.

For the purpose of illustrating the adjustability of the inclined angle of the housing A, side channel irons 28 are shown as being connected to the opposite sides of the bottom frame 2|. The lower depending ends of these side channel irons are pivoted at 29 to a base frame 30 Adjusting channel irons or uprights 3| are adjustably connected by means of the series of apertures 32 and the bolts 33 to the upper ends of the side channel irons 28. Although not shown, the lower ends of the base frame 30.

' The entire apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 2 as being transversely canted with respect to the horizontal. This canting of the apparatus is shown as being obtained by the positioning of a block or shim 34 under one side of the base frame '30. It will be appreciated that blocks or shims of different thickness may be employed to maintain the apparatus at different canted angles with respect to the horizontal. Of course, in making a permanent commercial installation, more substantial means will be employed for rigidly and fixedly supporting the apparatus at the desired inclined and canted angles in accordance with the characteristics, etc., of the material to be treated and the method that is to be performed by the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the top wall panel 26 is interrupted at 35 for connection with a suitable exhaust hood 38 while the bottom wall panel 21 is interrupted at 39 for connection with the inlet box 40. The inlet opening 39 with its associated inlet box 40 and the outlet opening 35 with its exhausthood 38 are employed for producing a flow of air, or other gaseous treatment fluid, through the treatment zone which is formed within the housing A.

Fig. 3 discloses two inlet boxes 40 and two exhaust hoods 38 as being arranged in side-by-side relation for connection with the bottom wall panel and top wall panel respectively of the housing A. For carrying out certain treatment methods, it will be satisfactory to employ one inlet box and one exhaust hood and have these elements extend the full width of the housing A. That is to say, if one gaseous treatment fluid at a uniform temperature is to be employed for effecting the desired treatment of the material passing through the housing, this air or other gaseous fluid can be handled by one inlet box and one exhaust hood. However, the use of two inlet boxes and two'exhaust hoods renders the apparatus more'flexible in operation. For example, the two inlet boxes and the two exhaust hoods can be employed in the same manner as one inlet box and one exhaust hood for handling a single fluid at a uniform temperature while the two boxes and the two hoods, also, can be employed for producing flows through the treatment zone of the housing A of air, or another gaseous treatment fluid, at two diiferent temperatures to produce different treatments or to carry out different portions of the same treatment. Additionally, the two boxes and the two hoods make it possible to employ two diiferent gaseous treatment fluids.

The inlet boxes are illustrated in Fig. 3 as being connected to inlet ducts '41 while the exhaust its moisture content, etc., and the rate at which it hoods are illustrated as being connected to exhaust ducts 42.

Fig. 2 illustrates the interior of the housing A as being provided withsecondary side walls 43 and 44 which lie in parallelism with and are spaced inwardly of the side wall panels 22 and 23. These secondary sidewalls 43' and 44 form b'e-' tween them the zone in which the flowable materials are treated. These secondary side walls are spaced inwardly of the side wall panels to form transmission compartments 45 and 46. These compartments accommodate two strands of conveyor chains, sprocket wheels for the chains, etc., to maintain these transmission elements out of the direct path of the flowable solids being treated and the treatment fluid or fluids.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 disclose a head sprocket shaft 41 as extending entirely through the upper end portion of the housing A. The outwardly projecting ends of this shaft are journaled in the pillow-blocks 48 that are mounted on exterior brackets 49. A sprocket wheel 56 is suitably fastened to one extreme outer end of the head shaft" and is adapted to be driven by a sprocket chain, not shown, that extends from a suitable source of power. Head sprocket wheels 5| are suitably fastened to the head shaft 41 and are located in the respective transmission compartments 45 and 46.

A foot shaft 52 is illustrated in Fig. 2 as extending entirely through the lower portion of the housing A for being iournaled at its outer ends in the pillow-blocks 53 that are mounted on exteriorly positioned brackets 54. Loosely mounted on the portions of the foot shaft 52 which extend through the transmission compartments 45 and 6 I the housing A. "The cross sectional shape of these flightpans or traysis best illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. Each one oi. these flight pans 'or trays is formed with an inner lip 62, an intermediate bottom or base portion 63, and a back portion 64. An outer lip of flange 65 also is provided for'the dual purpose of'adding strength to the flight and for cooperating with the wall panels 26 and 21 for preventing by-passing ofthe gaseous treatment fluids admitted to the housing "A through the inlet opening or openings 39.

That is to say, the flights 58 cooperate with the bottom wall panel :1 tocompel the inlet fluid to pass directly between the flights traveling through the lower run of the conveyor and cooperate with the top wall panel 26 to compel the treatment fluid to pass between the flights lined up with the exhaust hood or-exhaust hoods 38. Figs. 4 and 5 disclose the inner lip portions 62 of the flights 56 as being of different depths. This is due to the fact that these two figures are taken on two transversely spaced; vertical sections. Figs. 2 and 4 show these inner lips 62' as being notched or cut away at 66 to accommodate the feed spout 61. The irmer lip portions62 of the flights are of greater depth laterally inwardly of this'feed spout. By inspecting Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the portions 62', 63 and 64 of each flight 59 form a material carrying pan or .tray during the travel of the flight through the lower run of the conveyor path.

' The material feed spout or chute 61 is employed for delivering the flowable solids that are to be treated into the interior of thehousing at a zone which is located at the left hand side of the path of travel of the flights while they are need not be keyed to the foot shaft 52. By being loosely mounted on this shaft, the foot wheels 55 are permitted to seek their own positions of alignment with the head wheels 5|.

The respective links or pitches of the chains 56 carry suitable attachment lugs 51 by means of which suitable conveyor flights 58 are connected to the chain strands.

Fig. 2 discloses these flights 58 as extending through the openings or slots 59 formed in the secondary side walls 43 and 44.- That is to say, the flights extend a short distance at each end through these openings or slots 59. The openings or slots are continuous and correspond in elevation approximately to the endless or continuous path followed by. the flights in bending around the head and foot wheels 5| and 55 respectively and in forming the lower and upper runs of the conveyor. gaseous treatment fluid, or fluids, from the treatment zone into the transmission compartments and 46, the opposite ends of the flights 58 have suitably attached thereto the sealing plates i 66. These sealing plates travel through endless sealing boxes 6| which lie outwardly of and folin the secondary side walls 43 and 44. The previously described attachment lugs 51 travel To prevent loss of the low the pattern of the openings or slots 59 formed through suitable slots formed in the outerside the aforementioned treatment zone provided by 7 The manner in which the previously moving through'their active, lower run and adjacent the region where the flights move into the straight line path of the'lower run after bending around the foot sprocket wheels 55. The feed spout or chute, therefore, extends through the side wall panel 22 and the secondary side wall 43. A trim-off plate'68 is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 as being associated with the inner delivery end of the feed spout or chute. A deflector plate 69, also, is associated with the delivery end of the feed spout or chute and functions to deflect laterally inwardly of said delivery end the solids that fall or cascade through the treatment zone between the secondary side plates 43 and 44 in a plane that lies just below the delivery end of the feed chute or spout 61. The function of this shield or spill plate is to-prevent the material being treated from spilling downinto the flights as they travel around the foot sprocket wheels.

Figs. 1 and 2 disclose a discharge spout 1| as extending into the interior .of the housing A through the side wall panel 23 and the secondary side wall 44 to terminate at its upper end in close proximity to the path followed by the flights in bending around the head wheels 5|. Fig. 2 shows this upper end of the discharge spout as being located adjacent the secondary 'side wall 44. The terminal end 12 of the discharge spout is open and is positioned to receive the fully treated solids as they are spilled from the righthand end portions of the flight pans in bending around 1 described 1 the head sprocket wheels 5|.

As no reference has been made to the disclosures of Figs. 6 and 7 in describing the apparatus, it is believed that a brief explanation of what is 11- -lustrated in these two flgures will be helpful in arriving at a clear understanding.

The'two side walls shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are the secondary side walls 43 and 44 that were specifl'cally referred to'in connection with the disclosure of Fig. 2. The feed chute or.spout 61 is illustrated as being located in the lower left hand portion of each one of these two disclosures. The discharge ch'ute 1i is'illustrated as being associated with the upper right hand corner of the illustrated apparatus and as having its open upper end or terminal 12 arranged to receive material that has been completely treated.

The cut-oif plate 68 and the deflector plate 69 are additionally illustrated in connection with the feed chute or spout 61. In referring to the disclosures of Figs. 4 and 5, reference was made to the shield or spill plate in connection'with the feed chute or spout 61. This shield or spill plate 70 is shown in each of Figs. 6 and '7. The dis-' closures of these last two mentioned figures,

therefore, are limited to the treatment zone of the apparatus. or thezone or area in which the novel steps of the method. are carried out.

The sectional viewof Fig. 4 shows the flights 58 while traveling through their lower, active run and while bending partly'around the head sprocket whels 5| and the foot sprocket wheels 55. The

flights 58 are employed during this portion of their total travel for receiving the flowable solids to be treated from the feed chute or spout 81, conveying the solids upwardly through the path of flow of the gaseous treatment fluid that is delivered to the treatment zone of the apparatus through the inlet box 40 and the inlet opening 39. This gaseous treatment fluids flows between the spaced flights traveling past the inlet opening 39. The direction of movement of the treatment fluid is indicated by the arrow line 13. This treatment fluid naturally moves in heat exchange relation with the entire exposed under surface of each one of the flights 58, the exposed upper sur-- face of each flight, and the exposed upper surface of each charge or batch of solids being carried by the flight trays or pans. Therefore, this flow of the gaseous treatment fluid between the flights and their charges or batches of solids will help to dry, heat and/or cool the conveyed solids.

It will be recalled that the housing A is intended to be supported in such a manner that the lower active run of the conveyor is inclined at a desired angle with respect to the perpendicular. Additionally, the housing A is intended to be transversely canted at any desired angular relation with respect to the horizontal. The inclination of the active run of the conveyor, which is traveling in the direction of the arrow line 14 in each of Figs. 4 and 5, is clearly illustrated in these two figureswhile the transverse canting is shown by the disclosures of Figs.f 6 and '7.

Figs. 4, 6 and 7 show the feeding'of the solids into the left-hand end portion of each one of'the conveyor pansas they move past the delivery end of the feed spout or chute 61. This amount of untreated solids that is fed'to the left hand. end portion of each flight pan as it passes the feed spout or chute may be theoretically considered as 8 by the flights through the flow of gaseous treatment fluid and along the secondary side wall ll. This initial upward travelof the untreated solids is represented by the solid arrow line I5 in Fig. 7. As the flights 58 start bending around the head sprocket wheels 5|, the pans of the flights start spilling the conveyed solids over the-outer edges of their inner lips '62. in Figs. 4 and 6 and is indicated bythe reference character 16. As the material is spilled from the pans of the various flights, it is caused 'to fall or cascade downwardly over the upwardly traveling flights 58 and their charges or batches of solids. This cascading or downward falling of the solids of the solids which is falling or cascading down-,

wardly along the secondary side wall 43 from interfering with the initial feeding of solids to the left hand end portions of the flight pans, the deflector plate 68 is provided and functions to direct this material laterally to the side of the feed spout or chute 61.

The falling or cascading material is finally stopped by the shield or spill plate 10' and is again fed to the flight pans as they advance beneath v the bottomedge of this plate". The remaining solid arrow lines 19 of Fig. 7 are intended to represent this repeated upward movement of the solids in the form of charges or batches carried by'the conveyorpans. Of course, each time the solids arrive at the region where the flights bend aroundthe head sprocket wheels ii, the solids are again spilled over the inner edges of the flight lips 82.' This repeated falling or cascading of the solids is represented by the remaining dash lines 80 of Fig. 7.

Due to the canted position of the housing A,

thefalling or cascading solids will be caused to advance transversely of the treatment zone. This transverse advancement will occur each time the solids are caused to fall or cascade through the treatment zone with the result that the solids will progress in a step-by-step manner toward the right, as viewed in Figs, 6 and'l. It will be appreciated, of course, that the material does not move upwardly and downwardly in definite or distinguishable bands as indicated by the showing of Fig, 7. Fig. 6 shows the flights 58 filled with material throughout their lengths. naturally will occur some lateral flow or mixing of the solids as they are charged into the trays or pans of the flight by the shield or spill plate 10. This lateral or transverse intermixing, also, will occur while the solidsare falling or cascading downwardly over the advancing flights.

When the solids areiflnallylifted through a path or band that lies adjacent the secondary side wall 44 and are spilled from the right hand ends of the flight pans as the flights bend around the head sprocket wheels ii; the open upper end of the discharge chute 1i will receive the spilled solids and conduct them' out of the housing A.

This discharge is represented'by the character Si in each of Figs. 6 and '7.

It was pointed out above that the air, or other gaseous treatment fluid. delivered to the treatment chamber of the housing A through the inlet opening 39 passes between the flights 58 and their charges of the solids. After passing beforming a part of a band of solids'that is lifted tween the flights, the treatment fluid permeates This spillage is depicted There .9 through the relatively shallow stream of solids I1 cascading downwardly over the advancing flights. This places the treatment fluid in intimate con.- tact with each particle or lump of solids in the stream 11. Consequently, each particle or lump of the solids is directly subjected to the treatment action of the air, or other gaseous fluids. Once the material to be treated is introduced to the treatment zone of the housing A, it will remain at least in heat exchange relation with the treatment fluid until it is discharged from the housing by the chute II. This will be apparent when it is considered that the treatment fluid passes between the charges or batches of solids while they are being elevated and passes between the individual particles or lumps of solids as they are cascading over the advancing flights. Additionally, the atmosphere within the treatment chamber above the shield or spill plate l8 and between the two straight runs of the conveyor flights will assume the temperature characteristics of the treatment fluid that is circulated through the treatment zone from the inlet box 40 to the exhaust hood 88.

Let us'now consider the manner in which the described apparatus carries out the method of drying fiowable solids. If the apparatus is provided with a single inlet box '40, the treatment air, or other gaseous fluid, delivered to the treatment zone 01' the housing A will be of uniform temperature throughout the entire cross section of the inlet box. This treatment fluid, as has been described above, will flow between the advancing flights 58 in heat exchange relation with the charges of solids carried by these flights and will permeate through the cascading stream of solids I1. As the solids progressively advance transversely of their two, substantially parallel, paths of movement, the excess moisture existing upon or within the individual particles or lumps will be removed. As the individual particles or solids give up their moisture, the material will become less sticky or tacky and will fall or cascade as a looser, less compact stream. Consequently, the flowing treatment fluid, in passing through the cascading stream, will be permitted to separate and remove more and more fines or dust particles from the solidsas the latter advance across the treatment zone and will complete this separation and removal of the fines or dust particles by the time the solids reach their point of discharge from the housing A.

If two inlet boxes 40 and exhaust hoods 38 are employed, treatment fluid of the same character or temperature can be. employed or treatment fluids of different characters or temperatures can be circulated through the aligned sets of inlet boxes and exhaust hoods. For example, if the drying method is to be performed, air at difierent temperatures can be circulated through the parallel sets of inlet boxes and exhaust hoods with the air of higher temperature being circulated through the portion of the treatment zone lo-' cated on the feeding side while the air of lower temperature will be circulated through the discharge side of the treatment zone.

No attempt hasbeen made to disclose the use of a partition for dividing the treatment zone of the housing into two distinct chambers but it is obvious that such a partition can be employed.

If the method of both drying and cooling the flowablesolids is to be carried out by this apparatus, airor other gaseous fluid of the proper high temperature will be circulated through the aligned inlet box and exhaust hood located on the feed side of thehousing while air, or other gaseous fluid of considerably lower temperature will be circulated through the discharge side of the treatment zone by the remaining inlet box and exhaust hood. A dividing partition for the treatment zone will be more essential in carrying out this combined drying and cooling method.

When the apparatus is employed .for carrying V out the method of cooling flowable solids, either one or two inlet boxes and one or two exhaust hoods can be employed. If one inlet box and exhaust hood are, employed, air, or the like, of uniform temperature is circulated through the env tire width of the treatment zone. If two inlet boxes and two exhaust hoods are employed, air of the same low temperature can be circulated through theentire width of the treatment zone or air at different temperatures can be circulated through the two half portions'of the treatment zone.

Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive disclose a modifled form 'of apparatus which is capable of carrying out advancing the solids transversely of the treat ment zone. For that reason, the housing, its supporting means, and the inlet boxes and exhaust hoods will be referred to only in a general way while the remaining mechanism will be,

- rather specifically described.

livering the air, or other gaseous treatment fluid,

to the interior of the housing A while'one or more exhaust hoods 84 are employed for carrying on the fluid after it has ment zone. V

A head shaft 85 passes through the upper portion of the housing A and is supported in suitable outboard pillow blocks 86. A driving sprocket wheel 81 is suitably attached to one projecting end of this head shaft. Head sprocket wheels 88 are mounted on the head shaft and function to train the two strands of conveyor chain 89 around the head bend of the conveyor path.

A foot shaft 90 passes through the lower portion of the housing'A and is journaled at its 0pposite ends in suitable outboard pillow blocks 9!.

Keyed, or otherwise suitably secured, to the foot shaft are the foot sprocket wheels 92., These foot wheels train the two conveyor chain strands 89 around the footbend of the conveyorpath.

A suitable number of conveyor flights 93 are attached to the. links or flights of the conveyor chains 89 at their opposite ends. These flights 93 take the form of buckets which are arranged to convey material while moving through the lower, active run of theconveyor path. The dipassed through the treatrection of movement of the conveyor buckets is represented by the arrow line 94 in Fig. 10.

A suitable feed chute 95 is employed for delivering the solidsto be treated into the housing A.

an entrance opening 99 for passing not only the solids that are delivered by the feed chute 95 but ably fastened thereto.

also the solids that are cascaded through the treatment zone throughout the width of the said zone. This star feeder has a delivery spout I that functions to charge into the advancing flight buckets 93 measured charges of the flowable solids being treated. This spout I00 also extends the full width of the treatment zone and it delivers the solids to the full width of each conveyor bucket 93. trated as extending outwardly of one side of the housing A for having a sprocket wheel I02 suit- A sprocket chain I03 is trained over the sprocket wheel I02 and over a The shaft IOI of'the star feeder is illusdriver sprocket I04 which is suitably fastened to I the foot shaft 90 of the conveyor. The star feeder, therefore, is driven from this foot shaft.

The conveyor buckets 93 elevate the successive charges or batches of solids through the treatment zone of the housing and past theinlet opening of the inlet box 83. This box functions to deliver the air, or other gaseous treatment fluid in the direction of the arrows I05 through the spaces left between the conveyor buckets 93 and in heat exchange relation with the exposed under surfaces of these buckets and the exposed top surfaces of the charges or batches of solids carried thereby. As the conveyor buckets bend around the head sprocket wheels 88, the buckets spill their charges or batches of solids over the inner lips of the buckets. This spilling material is represented by the character I06 in Figs. 10

' and 11.

Instead of permitting the downwardly flowing .solids to cascade over the upwardly advancing conveyor buckets 93, spaced louvres 10! are provided for defining the course of the relatively shallow stream of solids which is representedby the character I08 in Figs. 10 and 11. Due to the spacing of these louvres, the'air, orother treatment fluid, is permitted to pass therebetween, as indicated by the arrow lines I09, and to permeate' through the stream I08. 7 This treatment fluid, therefore, is placed in direct contact with the individual particles'or lump of the solids in the shallow stream.

A paddle, or spirally pitched blade, conveyor H0 is positioned within the treatment chamber and is arranged so that the paddles or blades III dip into the cascading stream of solids I08. These blades -III are illustrated inFig. 11 as functioningto progressively advance the cascading solids transversely of the treatment zone.- This paddle conveyor, therefore, performs the same function as the canting of the apparatus of Figs. l to 7 inclusive.

Fig. 9 shows the shaft I I2 of this paddle conveyor as extending outwardly of the housing A for being driven by the conveyor head shaft II by means of the sprocket chain H3 and the sprocket wheels H4 and I I5."

As this apparatus of Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive functions in the same manner as the apparatus of Figs; lto 7 inclusive for carrying out the method steps of drying, heating and/or cooling flowable solids, it is not believed to be necessary to repeat this description. As the fully treated solids are spilled from the right hand end portions of the conveyor buckets 93, 'in bending around the head sprocket wheels 88, the solids are received by the open up end IIB of the discharge chute II! and are carried by thischute out of the housing A.

Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive disclose another form of apparatus which is capable of performing the various steps of the previously described method of drying, heating and/or cooling flowable solids.

This apparatus includes a housing A" which is supported for .pivotal movement at II8 to enable it to be positioned at different inclined angles with respect to the vertical. It'is not necessary to support the housing A" canted with respect to the horizontal because other means are em-- able bearings I22 at its opposite ends. One end of this shaft has suitably secured thereto a sprocket wheel I23 that is to be driven by any suitable source of power. Head sprocket wheels I24 are suitably fastened to the head shaft I2I.

A foot shaft I25 is shown as extending through the lower portion of the housing A". The opposite end portions of this shaft are journaled in the bearings I26; Foot sprocket wheels I21 aresupported on the foot shaft I25.

Two strands of conveyor chains I 28aretrained overthe head and foot sprockets I24 and I21. Angle bars I29 are suitably connected at their opposite ends tov the-ilnks or pitches ofthe conveyor chains I28. Suitably attached to these supporting angle bars I29 is an endless woven wire mesh belt I30. Flight mounting angles III are suitably attached to the supporting angle bars I29. These'angles I3I are positioned on the inner side of the wire belt I30. Flight plates I32 are attached to the angles I3I. It will be noted that the angles I3] and the flight blades I32 overlap for a. portion of their depth. This overlap is to permit the blades I32 to be adjusted with respect to their mounting angles I3I.

A feed chute I33 is employed for delivering the untreated flowable solids to the lower left hand cornerof the treatment zoneprovided in the-housing A". This untreated material is to v be picked up in charges or batches by the flights l32 and the wire mesh belt I30 for being elevated through the path of the treatment fluid that is delivered to the treatmentzone by the inlet box or boxes II9. This treatment fluid flows in the directionof the arrow lines I34 and will pass in heat exchange relation with the charges or 

